Apparatus for dispensing and accounting absorbent surgical articles

Abstract

A dispenser which may be sealed and sterilized, containing surgical absorbent pads for use during surgical operations, each surgical pad associated with an indicator strip rigidly affixed at one end to the inner wall of the dispenser such that removal of the absorbent pad extends the indicator strip to the exterior of the dispenser, the strip being of a length sufficient to prevent it inadvertent reintroduction into the dispenser, the spent absorbent pads reassociated with the exterior indicator strips to provide a visual positive accounting of absorbent pads used during the operation, the dispenser biased with a weighted flange extending from the bottom surface to land on a sterile field in a dispensing position when tossingly directed from a container towards the sterile field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and   at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.   
     
     
       2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a container having side and bottom walls and a removable seal to close an open end of the container, the container sized to house the dispenser. 
     
     
       3. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the strip is detachably connected to the pad. 
     
     
       4. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser. 
     
     
       5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a substantially planar bottom surface. 
     
     
       6. A dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the bottom surface extends longitudinally and latitudinally beyond the sidewalls of the dispenser to define a flange. 
     
     
       7. A dispenser as recited in claim 6, wherein the thickness of the flange is greater than the thickness of the sidewalls. 
     
     
       8. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a detachable seal to close the opening. 
     
     
       9. A dispenser as recited in claim 8, wherein the detachable seal is perforated. 
     
     
       10. A dispenser comprising: a container having a bottom surface;   a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface;   a strip of metal embedded in the flange; and   at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to the interior surface of the dispenser an a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.   
     
     
       11. A dispenser as recited in claim 10 wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser. 
     
     
       12. A dispenser comprising: a container having a substantially planar bottom surface;   a flange extending around the perimeter of the bottom surface;   at least one projection extending from the flange; and   at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with the absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad and the distal end of the strip having means for reassociating the pad with the strip.   
     
     
       13. A dispenser as recited in claim 12, wherein the strip is of a length sufficient to permit substantially the entire length of the strip to be pulled outside the dispenser. 
     
     
       14. A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior and a detachable seal to close the opening;   an instrument attached to an exterior surface of the dispenser to sever the seal; and   at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit the strip within the dispenser.   
     
     
       15. A dispenser for absorbent surgical sponges, comprising: a dispenser having an opening to its interior; and   at least one elongated flexible strip rigidly secured at a first end to an interior surface of the dispenser and a distal end associated with an absorbent surgical pad sized to fit with the strip within the dispenser, the pad further defining a button hole in one end of the pad and a button attached to the distal end of the strip, the button engaging the button hole of the pad to associate the pad and the strip.